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A series of violent encounters between asian black bear In Himalaya State of India That has prompted authorities to impose emergency regulations, including authorizing lethal force in extreme circumstances.
At least five people have died in this Uttarakhand There have been bear attacks this year, according to data reported by Indian express, Citing forest department officials.
This number is the highest annual death toll since 2016. The attacks have injured many people and caused massive loss of livestock in remote mountain villages, which rely heavily on cattle for livelihood.
The crisis comes during the pre-hibernation period, when bears typically feed before moving to higher altitudes for the winter.
officials say changing weather patterns This behavior has been interrupted. Warm temperatures, delayed snowfall Decreased availability of food is believed to keep bears active for longer periods of time and draw them closer to human settlements in search of food.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife RK Mishra blamed climate change for the unusual aggression. “This year there has been very little snowfall in the high altitude areas and winter has come late. Normally, bears go into hibernation in early November, but lack of snow and lack of food is keeping them active, increasing restlessness and aggression,” he said. The New Indian Express,
A woman who was seriously injured in a bear attack while collecting grass in Chamoli district was airlifted and brought to India. India According to the report of Press Trust of India, the Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rishikesh gave this information.
Doctors said he lost his left eye and the vision in his right eye was partially destroyed. According to officials, she was lying unidentified on the steep slopes of the forest for about 24 hours before she was rescued.
Elsewhere in the Garhwal region, villagers have reported repeated raids on cattle pens at night.
Officials said more than 45 cattle have died in the Paithani range of Pauri district within three months.
Divisional forest officer Abhimanyu Singh said at least four bears were roaming in the area, making it difficult to identify which animal was responsible for the individual attacks.
Mr Singh was first allowed to attempt to capture the bear using cages and, if those attempts failed, to tranquilise the bear. In what he described as only a last resort, officials were authorized to kill the bear within 15 days if no other option worked.
The state has now circulated updated guidelines for dealing with human-bear conflict during the winter. Officials have been asked to identify areas where bears have been spotted recently, increase night patrolling and carry tranquilization kits, protective equipment and rescue cages.
Only an authorized veterinarian can sedate a bear. Communities have been advised to avoid forests during dawn and dusk, when chances of encountering them are higher, and to improve waste management, as open garbage heaps attract wildlife.
Long-term measures include planting of native species such as oak, kafal and wild berries inside forest areas to improve the availability of natural food and strengthening training for field staff.
The department has also directed district units to prepare conflict-management plans tailored to the local terrain and seasonal patterns.
across UttarakhandThe Himalaya The black bear – a subspecies found in the north of India and between altitudes of 1,200 m to 3,300 m (3,900–10,800 ft) – has been sighted in protected reserves as well as near towns such as Gopeshwar, Mussoorie, Chakrata and Pithoragarh.
Bears have also been observed foraging for food in garbage patches around urban edges, which experts link to disrupted food cycles. Attacks have become so common in some villages that forest officials have started accompanying school children to ensure safe travel.
Climate experts and wildlife biologists say the unusual aggression and increased movement may reflect both habitat degradation and global warming.
Less snowfall reduces hibernation periods, meaning bears remain active when food is most scarce in the forest.
The loss of wild berries and native fruits has also been observed in several other countries, including Japan and Canada, where similar conflicts are increasing.
Camera-trap images from Paithani recently showed four or five different bears visiting the same forest edge repeatedly, raising concerns about the growing local population. Wildlife behavior experts say the density of bears in shrinking habitat increases the risk of encounter.